ACT I

Scene 1

Harold and Jamie stand at separate tables, occasionally glancing curiously at each other.  Harold's table has a tea pot and a stack of cups.  Jamie drinks absinthe and reads a paper, and there are a few books stacked on her table.  Max enters, stage left.

Max:     

Harold, just you?

Max stands beside Harold.

Harold:  

Looks that way.  I think it'll be quiet today, quite a few people are on holiday and busy...

Max:     

Wish it were me...

Harold:  

I suppose as well not many want to meet in public.

Max:

Why the hell not?!

Harold:

I don't know perhaps they'll think people will over hear and find us ridiculous.

Max:

That's stupid!

HAROLD:

Well I don't know, you'll have to ask them.

A slight pause.

max:

At least Silvi will be here.

harold:

Oh? How do you know that?

MAX:

We live together, and girlfriends tend to tell their boyfriends where they'll be.

HAROLD:

Oh I didn't know...

MAX:

Ha! Maybe that's why you're single.

HAROLD:

I'm not.

MAX:

Really? You look it.

HAROLD:

What I meant was I didn't know you were a couple.

MAX:

Fancy her do you?

HAROLD:

I told you, I've got a girlfriend.

MAX:

Yeah me and Silvi, we've been going out for some time.  It's quite serious.  I'm going to ask her to marry me.  I like this cafe for it, it has good vibes.

HAROLD:

You're going to propose here? Today?

MAX:

Yeah!  How about this, if I want you to leave to do it - propose, I'll... I'll ask you to get me some water?

HAROLD:

Ok.

MAX:

So what do I say when I want you to leave?

HAROLD:

May I have some water, please Harold?

MAX:

And after I ask you for water you leave.

HAROLD:

Won't it seem strange if I just get up and leave.

MAX:

Don't be dense, think for yourself!

HAROLD (SARCASTIC):

I'll tell you, Silvi's one lucky girl.

MAX:

So this girlfriend of yours?  What's her name?  What does she do?  Is she real? -

HAROLD:

Of course's real.

Silvi has entered and Max sees her.

MAX:

Silvi!  Silvi the secretary!

Silvi stands beside Harold.

Silvi:

Hello all.  I thought I was late.

MAX:

You are, we're left only with the true fighters of the cause, everyone else has chickened out.

harold:

Hello Silvi.

SILVI:

Hi, Harold.  So can we do this if there are only 3 of us?

MAX:

Of course, more than ever.

HAROLD:

I don't think we can though we need a majority to pass motions.  Perhaps we should just leave it today?

SILVI:

No please don't go Harold, we can still discuss and debate.  Like let's start on...

Silvi flicks through her note book.

SILVI:

...ideology.  Let's start from scratch it'll be a good exercise.  Forget The Project for now.  So opinions on ideology, left, right and how far?

MAX:

I would go further and ask why do we even need an ideology?

SILVI:

Well, because people will want to know what we stand for!

HAROLD:

Sugar?

SILVI:

Thanks.

Harold puts sugar in her tea.

MAX:

…no what I am saying is ideology died with the soviets; we don’t want to be pigeonholed!  Like just because people on the left wing want certain things and people on the right wing want certain things, why do we have to choose a side?...  Certain people might want free medical care, free dental care …and free eye care, available to all, doesn’t mean we do,… we may only want 2 of those.

HAROLD:

Which two?

MAX:

Well eye care is least important, as far as I know.

HAROLD:

Yeah but not if your blind.

MAX:

Why would you need eye care if you’re blind?

silvi:

You’re all missing the point!  You’re talking about policies that’s not important in a revolution.  It’s the idea that we stand for, that’s what I’m talking about. 

MAX:

But we need policies, how will we get everyone on board?

SILVI:

People don’t like policies, they don’t fight and die for policies.  Policies are for moderates.  People like ideas and personalities that’s what they fight for – personalities don’t fail like policies.

HAROLD:

Yeah but the ideology behind the person is important.  And wouldn't you say the fact that ideology isn't important just highlights that there isn't any choice anymore that all the main political parties are practically the same.

SILVI:

Yes -but would you say that choice between facist and communist and all inbetween is an adequate scale?

HAROLD:

My point was: there is less choice, not to support communists...

MAX:

I disagree entirely!  That scale of left and right restricts choice. (like saying something profound) Why left and right, if we keep moving on that we're never going to move forwards.

SILVI:

Yeah and doesn't it benefit us now that there is not a fear of such a scale, that we can meet up to discuss, and the matters not taken seriously by people?  It's quite interesting to look at the past here.  I've got this photo album, which has pictures of a few of my realitives at meetings of the communist party of Great Britain in the 30s.  The police were raiding...

MAX:

That red leather photo album, with a tear at the back?

SILVI:

Yeah.

MAX:

What are you talking about?  That's my photo album.

SILVI:

What?  What are you talking about?  I recovered the album recently from the attic. My great grandfather took those pictures.

MAX:

He did not!  The album was found when I took all my dad's stuff out of storage.

SILVI:

You calling me a lier?  I'll tell you it's moments in life like these i can't stand.

MAX:

I'm sure you're not lying.  You've just mixed things up in your mind.

SILVI:

Uh! I wish you would call me a lier.  That album's mine!

MAX:

You have to understand that album means a lot to me.

SILVI:

Well then I could give it to you as a present.

MAX:

You could not!  It's mine.  I could give it to you as a present. You cannot give me my own property.  That's ridiculous! It's mine.

HAROLD:

Would you like a glass of water Max?

MAX:

What? Oh, don't give me cheek.

SILVI:

He just asked if you would like water, and no thank you Harold I'm not thirsty.

MAX:

I'm not thirsty either, must be this damp atmosphere.

SILVI:

Sorry Harold you have to listen to this, but you must understand that album is mine.

MAX:

Harold don't listen to her.  It's mine Harold.

HAROLD:

Perhaps we should...

MAX:

We both can't be right, and if we were, what would that mean, we're related?

SILVI:

I could never be related to someone as slimy as you.

max:

This is ridiculous, why would you want it?

SILVI:

I don't want it.  I have it.  I don't want what I have, that's clear.

HAROLD:

Let's stop it guys, we're not suppose to be... chit chatting at these meetings.  How about we talk about...

Harold flicks through notepad.

HAROLD:

Yeah last week we briefly talked about how to get our message across...

Max and Silvi stare at each other coldly.

HAROLD:

Well, how about a protest?

MAX(excited):

A protest? - No, don't be ridiculous. I’ve been on one of those! Oh, no.  I ended up jumping on top of a truck, got slammed up against the window, and the bastard drove for 100 yards......before turning off the window wipers.  I got all these marks on my face from the wipers.

All laugh ,including Jamie.  The three look at her.

Jamie:

Could I borrow this?  Thanks.

Jamie takes shaker.

Harold: 

No, what I mean is: there are lots of people at protests.

Silivi: 

Yes! Don’t some revolutions start as protests? Even if they don’t, there are a lot of people who could be influenced there.  Many want the kind of change we want.  Where do we find out about protests, is there some kind of newsletter we could sign up to?

Max: 

I’m not sure, my friend took me along to that one I went to – I could check though.

Silivi: 

Remember and do.  It’s important that we commit to this.

MAX:

Oh, I'll remember, I've got a good memory.

Silivi leans forward, shakes her head in annoyance, in doing so she sees the newspaper Jamie is reading.

SILIVI:

Look at that man's paper...

They all look, Jamie looks back.

HAROLD:

Check out the leading story: 'Gypsy homosexuals murdered me twice'...

Harold laughs.

SILIVI(frustrated):

See the average person reads such trash so how can we get them access to our message?

HAROLD:

Never mind that now I want to know how you can murder someone twice. 

Pause, looks like going to start arguing again.

HAROLD:

But..but on the actual revolution, do we need it to be bloody?

MAX:

Won't be much of a revolution if it's not.

SILIVI:

I’m not ruling anything out, we’ll just see how it goes, play it by ear.  Violence has to have a point, or else it’s just... useless.

MAX(correcting her):

pointless!

SILIVI:

Yes you are.  I'm going to get a coffee.  I need  something to stimulate me.  I'm not getting anything here.

HAROLD (SARCASTIC):

Thanks.

Silvi exits, stage right.

MAX:

What a bitch, ay?

HAROLD:

I think it's time I left.

MAX:

Don't go.  Please, Harold.

HAROLD:

What am I staying for?

MAX:

Help me, please.  Go to her, just find out what she's saying.  If it's just this photo album she's annoyed at me for.  I don't know why she thinks the albums hers.  There must be something else...

Harold checks watch, thinks for a minute.

HAROLD:

Why not.  I could do with some drama.

Harold exits, stage right.  Max approaches the other table with Jamie.

MAX:

Karl Marx - The Communist Manifesto.

Jamie looks up from reading.

JAMIE:

Well done, you can read.

MAX:

So you're a communist?

JAMIE:

No.

MAX:

Then what you reading it for?

JAMIE:

I'm not going to answer such a stupid question.

MAX:

Ha - you just did.

Harold enters approaches Max.

JAMIE:

I guess i did.

MAX (to harold):

So what did she say?

HAROLD:

That the photo album is definitely hers.

MAX:

It is not!  She's annoying me now.  Did she say anything else?

HAROLD:

She was just complaining about the quality of sand in the coffee they serve here.

MAX(distracted some what):

What does she want? Imports of the finest sand Arabia has to offer.  That's it! I'm out of here.  I trust you've had you're fill of gossip for the day?

HAROLD (SARCASTIC):

Oh don't stay here on my account.

Max leaves.  Silvi enters.

SILVI:

Oh good he's left.  To hide that album I suppose, mother was right, he's such a waster and who cares if he breaks up with me as well.

HAROLD:

I don't know about that.  He was going to propose to you.

SILVI:

What?  Oh my god.

She smiles and is joyous.

SILVI:

I can't believe it.  He really told you that?

HAROLD:

Yeah, but don't tell him I told you.

SILVI:

I...I...He wants me to be his wife? 

She collapses in his arms.

HAROLD:

Silvi!  You ok?

She comes to her feet.

SILVI:

Yeah

Harold:

You sure?

Silvi:

Oh my God!  This is the happiest day of my life!  Here have this.  I have to go get him...

She indicates her coffee and cake, she hugs Harold taking him by suprise, then dashes out.  Jamie looks up at him. 

HAROLD:

A taster of married life.  Sorry about them

Jamie laughs.

JAMIE:

That's alright you can't control other people.

HAROLD:

I guess not.  Shame.

JAMIE:

So they're friends of yours?

HAROLD:

I wouldn't say that.  We belong to a sort of organisation, movement I mean.

JAMIE:

So what's your name?

HAROLD:

Harold.

JAMIE:

Posh.

HAROLD:

Yeah doesn't suit me.  Can I... would it be weird if i joined you?

JAMIE:

Yeah, but do it anyway.  I'm Jamie by the way.

HAROLD:

Nice to meet you.

Pause.

Jamie: 

So what do you want to talk about?  I should say I have a boyfriend.

Harold:

Oh, no no no!

Jamie looks at him as if to say ‘what you don’t find me attractive?’.

Harold: 

Well I mean yes you’re very pretty, I have a boyfriend - You!, You have a boyfriend, so I am sorry I can’t.  I hope we can just be friends.

Harold goes to leave, and sits back down.

Harold(nervous laugh):

Sorry a bad joke – that’s not why I’m here.

Jamie: 

Oh you’ve got some good jokes?

Harold: 

No.  I, well, no.

Notices books on table.

JAMIE:

You're the second most fidgety person I've met.

HAROLD:

Who was the first?

Harold tucks his hands under armpits.

JAMIE:

Just this girl i knew, who was worse.

harold:

......so you’re interested in politics?  What do you think about Marx’s idea about revolutions?

Jamie: 

I think it’s been established he was wrong.

Harold: 

How do you know history hasn’t come to an end yet?

Jamie: 

Well how do we know anything? - because we’d go mad if we didn’t accept somethings

Harold: 

Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong…

nervous laugh from Harold

HAROLD:

…but Marx said that people would rise up against capitalism, and then there would be communism.

Jamie: 

Yeah because people would be repressed under capitalism.  I don’t think many people here are repressed?  Capitalism has done a lot for people here, despite inequalities.

Harold: 

Yeah but there are still great inequalities.  Although, it won't be out of being repressed.

Jamie: 

Then why?

Harold: 

Out of boredom.

Jamie: 

That’s a scary thought: a bloody revolution out of boredom?

Harold: 

There are quite a few that have no stake in society, and I think people can get too comfortable

Pause.

Jamie: 

Or too unstable.

Harold: 

Ha! Being too comfortable can led to instability, boredom plays havoc on the mind. ...Anyway, if you wanted to you could join us?

Jamie(laughs):

…you planning a revolution?

Harold: 

We meet every week to talk about it.

Jamie(concerned): 

Jesus, how long has that been going on?!

Harold: 

A few years, some weeks are better than others.  Not many people turned up today and, Max and Silivi don’t like to talk about the theory behind it that much, and they both went ...a bit mad this week.  So, we didn’t really get anything done.

Jamie(joking): 

So did someone forget to bring the petrol bombs?

Harold:

I don’t want a bloody revolution.  

Jamie: 

Surely if it’s not bloody, it’s just ….

Harold:

Revolutionary change.  The extremists and fundamentalists are so passionate about their cause, we need some moderates who have that same drive. 

Jamie laughs.

Jamie: 

So why have your meetings gone on for so long?

Harold: 

Hey, a revolution takes time to prepare.  Plus we’ve all been quite busy.

Jamie:  

Not bored enough yet for a revolution?

Harold: 

Not prepared enough.

Jamie: 

But isn’t this all a bit ridiculous?

Harold: 

I’m sure everything brilliant was thought to be ridiculous.

Jamie: 

Yeah but ridiculous is ridiculous is ridiculous.  I mean this isn’t serious is it?

Harold: 

It’s strange that people are scared by the ridiculous.

Jamie: 

You're not scaring me.

Harold smiles. Pause.

Harold:  

Well I think next week we are going to be talking about the practicalities of invading parliament.

Jamie: 

Sounds a blast - ha.  I usually don’t have that much to do on a (insert day).  I’ll think about coming.  Although I wonder if these kinds of groups are still legal what with the government…  

Harold shrugs.

Harold: 

It’s been really good for me.  I was unemployed and really ill when I met them, but having this project has pulled me up and given me some purpose.  I know logically we probably seem really silly, but it’s good not to accept everything.  To challenge things we think are normal.  To find the edges, so we know what’s possible.  Anyway, it's getting on - I need to go, thanks for listening to me.

Jamie: 

No, problem.  You’re quite sweet, in a strange way.

Harold: 

Ha yeah sweet that’s why I need a revolution to get rid of that image, and to find a purpose.  So I might see you next week?

Jamie: 

Yeah, maybe my uncle works in ammunition might be able to get us a good deal, if we want to storm parliament.  I'd offer to buy you a drink, but if you have to go?

HAROLD:

Yeah my girlfriend will be waiting on me.  You always drink absinthe in the afternoon?

JAMIE:

When ever I feel bored I come here to drink it.  Plus it's the perfect drink for the afternoon, you get the euphoria without the drunkness.  So this girlfriend of yours, she know about what you've been up to?

HAROLD:

No.  I'm sure i'll tell her sometime.

Jamie turns her head to look directly at him.  Harold smiles.

JAMIE:

Well?

Harold: 

You have beautiful green eyes.

Jamie: 

Thank you, a few people have actually said that. I’m not sure.

Harold: 

Don't you ever look in the mirror?